Process of and apparatus for treating coal.



C. H. SMITH.

PROCESS 'OF AND APiARATUS FOR TREATUJG COAL.

APPLlCATION FILED MAY 5. I916. Lfigfia Patented May 1, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 351 Al' 64101 net? C..H. SMITH.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING COAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1916.

LQQAQ AO Patented May1,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. H. SMITH.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING COAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1916.

Patented May 1, 1917.

3SH EETSSHEET 3.

crusher to ing thus heated into a are.

CHARLES HOWARD SMITH, or SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING G OAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May ll, 1917.

Application filed May 5, 1916. Serial No. 95,547.

One object of the invention is to subject a divided coal to of the particles or mass of pulverized or finely a progressive heating of all of the coal in the mass so as to drive ofl? 'dist-il off the moisture and a substantial part of the volatile substances contained therein, to fuse the particles of coal or solid fuel beplastic condition, to continue the heating substantially to the end of the plastic stage, to discharge from the retort in which the been performed the heated, to remove suflicient gases that are entrained or mixed with the fused mass after discharge from the retort and while the mass remains in said ,plastic condition and finally to press the plastic coal or mass into a briquet. If the briquet is to be shipped the structure must be made compact by applying pressure suflicient in amount to completely effect this condition. Subsequent brittleness is also overcome by suitable treatment prior to pressing, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the process of forming briquets-or hard lumps of modified coal-can be commercially performed.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows.

As illustrating the manner in which the invention may be realized reference is made to the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which drawings,

Figure 1 shows in plan an apparatus having the parts thereof arranged for performing the invention. In this figure there is indicated a series of combined furnaces and retorts (frequently hereinafter referred to as furnace-retorts), a coal crusher, astoragebin, means for conveying coal from the the storage-bin, and suitable mechanism whereby coal from the storagebin can be delivered to receiving hoppers of the series of furnace retorts. The parts just heating operation has. material when properly referred to are at the charging end of the series of retorts. indicated at the discharge end of the series of retorts the mechanism whereby the heated material discharged from the interior of the retorts will be delivered to an inclosed conveyer mechanism that in turn is relied upon to conduct the heated products received from the retorts to a press for forming into hard lumps or briquets the material that the press receives from the conveyer mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a vertical end elevation looking at the apparatus toward the discharge end of the retorts.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the combined furnace and retort In this figure there is also I and is a view taken as on the plane indicated by the. line G-C of Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and is a view looking in the direction of the arrows A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a combined furnace and retort and is a view takenas on the plane indicated by the line B-B in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through the central portion of the press thatv is shown in position in plan in Fig. 1 and in elevation in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a form of press that can be employed.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a retort which is oval in cross-section.

The several combined furnaces and retorts ar indicated by the reference character 1.

2 indicates the crusher, 3 the storage-bin and 4 an elevator-mechanism between the crusher and the storage-bin. According to the construction shown .in Fig. 4 the coal is deliv- 'ered as soon as it is crushed by means of the elevator-mechanism 4 into the uppe portion of the storage-bin 3. A track construction 5 extends adjacent to the charging end of tion the several hoppers can be kept supplied. The hopper at the charging end of each retort R is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. At the lower end of the receiving hopper 8 there is a discharge opening 9 through which coal can pass into the space 10 in front of a reciprocating plunger 11. Motion is imparted to this plunger 11 in any suitable manner as from an electricmotor that operates the crank 12 to which the link 10 13 for the piston or plunger 11 is connected.

This crank 12 can be operated in a substantially continuous manner whereby the coal will be charged to the interior of the'furnace substantially continuously. The retort R s shown as extending horizontally and it 1s provided with an agitating element or mixer 14 having a number of paddles or blades 15 1 This mixer is arranged so that it continuously mixes or agitates the charge in the re tort in a manner to obtain a continuously changing surface or mixing of the different particles constituting a part of the retort charge. For example, it contlnuously mixes or agitates all ofthe difi'erent particles which may be considered to constitute the part marked Y of the charge. The retort is supplied with heat upon the exterior portion thereof which is derived from the furnace of the retort furnace 1, and in order that the shell of the retort can expand longitudinally- .suitable roller supports as S are provided between a supporting rib of the furnace and the lower side of the-retort shell. As the particles in any particular mass-any particular portion of the chargev as Yare constantly being agitated and uniformly mixed,

it will be noted that there is a uniform heating of all the particles in said mass, resultlng in the driving off or distilling ofi' moistures,

40 gases and vapors which are in or constitute a part of the mass being treated. The charge in each portion of the furnace is thoroughly mixed,,but it will be manifest that the portion of the charge at the charging end of the retort, and which may be considered. as the green charge, is not mixed with thatportion' of the charge at the discharge end of the retort and which may be considered as the heated portion of the retort charge. In

other words, while the charge is thoroughly mixed in each cross-section of the retort still the green portion of the charge is not mixed with that portion of the charge which has been properly heated; there is merely a thorough mixing'o'f the particles in that particular portion of the charge so that all particles in that particular portion will be subjected to a comparatively uniform amount of heat whereb y there will be a comparatively uniform evolution of fumes, gases and vapors constituting any one particular portion of the charge and this evolution will progress as the portion of the charge progresses or passes along the retort, and new and ad- '65 ditional gases and vapors will be given off I aaaaaae as the mass becomes heated to the higher temperatures. The paddles or blades 15 are constructed so as to agitate or mix the mass in any one portion of the charge, as just described, and also so as to move the charge along the retort during the distilling period, so that the mass designated as Y in Fig. '3 will ultimately reach the discharge end of the retort-and be finally discharged therefrom. The paddles 15 are carried by the shaft 16 that is caused to revolve by any suitable mechanism as, for example, through the medium of the motor M, pulley P, gears 17, 18, worm 19 and worm-wheel 20. The deficiency of the charge caused by the pro- 30 gressive movement along the retort is taken care of by the plunger 11 feeding the coal into the interior of the retort in the manner previously described. The gas, fumes'and vapor which are driven off during the heat- 5 ing pass from the retort through the pipe 21, and flow into the hydraulic main or header 22 from whence they flow or are Withdrawn for subsequent treatment to recover the by products. The pressure within the retort is preferably maintained substantially neutral; that is, so the pressure on the interior of the retort substantially balances the atmospheric pressure and it is therefore frequently desirable to provide the apparatus with an exhauster which can be relied upon to supply suflicient vacuum, or to elfect'a sufiicient re duction in pressureto balance the resistance offered to the flow of gases from the hydraulic' main through the several pipings leading to and between the various coolers and scrubbers and other devices of the by-product apparatus to which the piping is connected. In this way the pressure in the hydraulic mam is balanced, so to speak, and allows the passage of gases, fumes and vapors into the hydraulic main without any back pressure being created within the retort. The furnace F is shown in cross-section in Fig. 5 and has two'longitudinally extending refractory'beds 36 against which a mixture of gas and air is projected that is supplied to the furnace through the piping 37. The prodnets of combustion from each furnace pass through the conduit 38 into a main conduit 39 to the stack 40 or to-any other place that is desired; for instance, to boilers which it may be desired to heat bythese waste gases,- or to drierswhere the coal to be treated in theretort may be dried, should such an oper atlon be deemed advisable.

Such material as is properly heated in the retort leaves the discharge end D ofthe retort and drops or passes through the conduit 23 leading to a conveyer mechanism 25 that is inclosed and sealed from the air. In each of these conduits 23 there isa mixer 24' having cooperating rotating mixing or agitating elements 24 which are provided with spaced I arms 24. The function of this mixer will hereinafter more fully appear. The conveyer mechanism has a series of flights or scrapers 26 that travel along the conveyer floor denoted by 25. The flights convey the heated materialresidue after the distillationto a-press 27. The flights as constructed substantially fit and seal the inclosed box of the conveyer. A longitudinal vertical sectional view of the press-which is in fact a combined mixer and press-is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 6 and it comprises a revoluble member 28 having thereupon a number of spaced arms or knives 29, an auger wing 29*, a spiral flight 30 that resembles the end of an apger and a die portion 27. The function of the mixer 24 and also of the mixing portion-the 'revoluble member 28, spaced arms 29 and auger wing 29*- of the combined mixer and press is to thoroughly mix and break up all the masses of heated material prior to being pressed. The press is constructed so that while it progressively compresses the material which has been manipulated, thoroughly broken up, mixed and acted upon by the spaced arms of the mixing instrumentalities, it also permits the escape of gases entrained in the mass being pressed as the mass approaches final compression in the die portion 27* whereby there results a-hard mass or briquet. The discharge end of each of the retorts or the discharging mechanism at the end of each retort is connected by piping 31 and 32 to the hydraulic main 22 whereby any gases or fumes which are emitted'from the coal after it leaves the heat zorie can be conducted to the hydraulic main. As the gases contain the fumes of substances such as tar, pitch, etc., which are liable to condense upon the interior of the piping leading to the hydraulic main and thus finally clog or block said piping there are provided the scrapers or pushrods 33 that can be relied upon to keep the pipes open. Other scrapers or push-rods 34 are provided in the upper part of the discharge end or discharge mechanism to insure the dropping or passing of the heated material to the conveyer and to prevent a clogging at the discharge end of the retort. In-

stead of the press shown in Fig. 6 there might be employed other forms of presses whiehwill accomplish the same purpose, for example, a rotary press, such as is shown in Fig. 7. In this figure the rotary pressing members are designated by m.

The amount of pressure which is required for the formation of a briquet is dependent to quite an extent upon the manner in which the material to be pressed has been acted upon or treated so as to eliminate the gases entrained therewith, and the more effectively the gases are eliminated from the mass after passing from the heat zone the less will be the pressure required to properly form the briquet. The mixing or agitating of the mass after it leaves the retort and prior to being pressed is done by the arms 24 mixer 24; and also by the arms 29 of the combined mixer and press shown in Fig. 6. The spaced arms just referred to are for the purpose of obtaining through proper manipulation a masceration or breaking up of the masses to be'pressed whereby the gases entrained in the mass will be liberated or allowed to escape. The members which comprise the spaced arms 24 and the spaced arms 29 may be referred to as revoluble agitating elements as Well as mixing members.

The mixer and press shown in Fig. 6 effect a progressive pressingand densifying of the material which is to be formed into a briquet and at the same time also force from the material while it is being pressed a substantial portion of any remaining gases that may still be entrained therein.

of the The material is preferably fed from the retort to the press through an inclosed passageway;-such a construction eliminates the tendency for air to leak into the interior of the retort which is detrimental to the process. The principal reason for making the conveyer 25, above referred to, inclosed is to provide a construction that will prevent the entrance of air into the retort as the distilling operation proceeds. The conveyer 25 which assembles material from the various retorts and conveys it to the press may be referred to as a'trunk-line conveyer. This conveyer need not be inclosed, if a construction is provided at the end of each retort that will prevent the entrance of air into the retort and at the same time permit a discharge from the retort of material upon which the distilling operation has been completed. In other words, it is essential that substantially no air be permitted in'the retortsdistillation chambers-during the distilling period.

' The sealing can be accomplished in many ways; for example, one or more screw-conveyers could be employed as a means for withdrawing the heated material from within the retort, if the latter were a substantially closed retort. With such a conveyer the material being withdrawn, together with the flight of the conveyer, would serve to seal the retort against the entrance of air. It will here be noted that the coal increases a substantial amount in volume during its treatment in the retort-distillation zone and hence in designing a screw-conveyer means such as referred to above, this change in volume should be taken into account.

In the construction shown the sealing of the passageway or conductor 23 leading from the interioryof the retort to the conveyer 25 is; accomplished through the medium of a gate or valve 35. By this con heated material and conductin press is preferably made of t e 'inclosed,

the balance of retorts in the battery ofretorts, but even with the construction just described the conveyer for handling the it to the type. The feeding of the material to the lnterior of'the retort at the entrance end of the retort, as will be manifest from an inspection of the drawings, is such that the charging end 'of the retort is substantially sealed against the entrance of air and from what has just preceded it will be manifest that the retort is substantially an inclosed retort to which no air can enter and the distillation of gases, fumes and volatile vapors can be carried on without any combu'stion taking place within the retort due to the leakage of air.

In the distilling of pulverized coal or coal in finely divided condition, so asto form a modified product which can be pressed into a 'brique't, I have'found'that in high volatile coalsthat is coals ranging from 30 to 38% volatile mattersthe moisture is removed from the coal at a temperature of approximately from 215 degrees to 225 decan be modified in direct pro ortion to thegrees F.- At approximately 300 degrees to 400 degrees F. a slight superficial softening of the coal takes place and some gases are given off. The individual particles, however, retain their granular physical structure and the general character of the fuel remains substantially unaltered. When the temperature is increased to approximately 450 degrees F., the decomposition into liquid, gaseous and solid. substances begins to take place and the mass begins to fuse, swell and lose weight, and as the 'tar vapors and gases are liberated the mass becomes porous and somewhat'plastic, the granular pulverized structure of the coal slowly disappears and a partial cohesion or fusionbegins to take place. At 750 degrees F. new gases and vapors are liberated and the fusion be-' I gun .at the lower temperatures outlined above is complete, accompanied by a marked increase in the volume-of the mass, and the development of a porous cellular structure.

If the coal is maintained at this (or a higher) temperature a suflicient length of time the character of the coal being treated amount of gas and vapors 'distllled from the coal and it must of course be evident that the amount of gas distilled from the coal at a given temperature will necessarily be dependent upon the period of distillation. In other Words, a longer distillation at the temperature of 750 degrees (or higher temperature) will ultimately distil a substantial portion of the volatile contents of the coal. In a one hour distillation period however, at this temperature the loss 0 volatile contents of the original coal has resulted'in only a slight modification of the coal whichstill possesses the general characteristics of the original coal. I have foundthat by increasing the heat to a substantially higher temperature than 7-50 degrees F. decomposition takes place much more rapidly and that the amount of vapors and gases given olf are very materially tic mass or residue containing 17% to 20% of volatile matter and with an apparent specific gravity or density, as it leaves the heating zone of the retort, of .70 to .80. I A substantial" portion of the volatile so removed has been distilled oil as a gas having mixed therewith vapors of various kinds. These vapors consist largely of tar substances. In the combustion of raw coal these tar. vapors sometimes pass off unconsumed and are the principal constituents of smoke and soot. It will therefore be seen that their removal from the original. coal leaves a fuel-mod-ified coalwhich is prac- .tically smokeless and sootless with the most harmful ingredients removed.

In performing the invention the raw coal is preferably inserted in an intermittent manner but uniform rate by the reciproeating plunger 11 at the entrance .end of the retort. The partially de-gasified coal or residue is subsequently discharged in about an hour from the other end of the retort in a plastic condition. The tempera ture of the heated material or coal thus withrlgawn is approximately from 825 degrees t '980 degrees F. All the time that the mass which is thus charged to the retort is within the latter it is continuously agitated'or' mixed by the mixer paddles and the. fumes and gases driven off or distilled therefrom are conducted from the interior of the retort by the pipe 21 The coal which has been charged to the retort was pulverized by means of the crusher 2 and any ash or earthy impurities in or mixed with the coal are maintained in a finely -divided condition by the blades 15 of the agitator 14 and are absorbed or thoroughly mixed and fused with the plastic coal in the charge within the retort. In other words, the portion of the coal which finally results in ash, when the briquets are consumed, is substantially equally distributed throughout the entire mass of plastic coal and therefore as the briquet which is subsequently formed burns with only a slight coking action the danger of fusion of the earthy particles, or in other words the formation of clinkers during combustion is minimized. I have also found that the mass within the retort can be kept plastic as the temperature progresses upwardly only to such point where the formation of tar vapors has practically ceased to take place. In other words, if the coal is to be removed from the retort in a plastic condition it must be discharged from the retort slightly before the period arrives where the tar vapors cease to be formed.

Coal is a poor conductor of heat and if the charge is not kept continuously mixed as it progresses throu h the retort, as has been previously descri ed, that portion exposed to the retort sides will distil more rapidly than the coal-not so fully exposed to heat, and the tar vapors will pass oft first from that portion of the charge exposed to the heat, thus forming a porous crust or rim similar to a spongy coke around the exposed surface. transmitted through the cells thus formed in the semi-coke to the interior of the charge. In' other words, a gradual coking of the charge toward the center will take place. Under. such conditions the retort will'contain an outside rim or coating similar to spongy coke which has completely lost its plasticity, While the core of the charge will be found more or less plastic and in some instances practically green. The resulting material will not, therefore, be of uniform character and only a portion of the charge will be available for final compression, especially as the material from which the tarhas been completely driven off will pulverize under compression. By charging the coal at one end of the retort,'as has been previously described, and by continuously mixing and conveying the coal forward into the high temperature zones a uniform distilled plastic mass can be obtained. The distillation can also be carried on more rapidly and to a further degree and the product can be discharged in the proper period of time from the opposite end of the retort, sufficiently plastic for compression or formation into briquets after further treatment.

After the removal of the fused plastic mass from the retorts there still remains within the fused mass a considerable quantity of gases and vapors. These gases and vapors when pressed within the mass will The heat will subsequently be set up sufficient internal strains within the briquet to make it brittle. They cannot be removed satisfactorily while the material is in the heat zone, as new gases or vapors are continually forming. It is therefore necessary to withdraw the material from the heat zone and treat properly prior to final compression. Consequently, prior to compression, I treat the coal so as to permit the escape or the removal as far as possible of these gases and vapors. This can be accomplished in various ways, as by kneading the material, by suitable preliminary compression, or as by absorbing the non-condensable gases by other combustible matter mixed with the heated coal, or as by a combination of two or more of the steps enumerated, but no matter how this treatment for removal of gases is performed it should be done out of the heat zone and the temperature of the mass during such treatment should not be materially lowered; or the material should not be set by too much pressure, or the tar vapors condensed to a point where the plasticityis lost and the material becomes set.

In order to effect or assist in the removal of a substantial portion of the entrained gases I have employed an agitating element or manipulating mechanism 24: between the retort and the conveyer 25. For the same purpose there is employed the agitating element or mixing member just preceding thepressing portion of the press. In the press shown in Fig. 6 this mixing member comprises, as previously indicated, the spaced arms 29. The agitating elements or mixing members can be relied upon to perform a kneading action upon the material in the mixer and to break up and rupture the mass prior to being pressed. The pressure which is applied should be sufiicient to fully set the material so that the briquet will not rexpand and so that the resulting briquet will have a compact and homogeneous structure throughout without a porous or spongy core. In other words, the rupture of the briquet should show a conchoidal fracture. The specific gravity of' the modified coal when heated, treated and pressed in the apparatus and in the manner above described can be regulated so that with proper pressure the specific gravity of the final product will be approximatelybetween 1.15 and 1.35.

If the pressure for forming the briquet is too light to fully set the material it wil not give the necessary density of structure; the result will be a defective briquet having a porous core and a tendency to rupture due to the rexpansion of the vapors therein, and the briquet when ruptured will not resemble throughout the appearance of natural coal.

A defective briquet thus formed will also a 1 take fire much more readily during the subsequent coolingafter it leaves the press thus complicating the cooling portion of the process. also suffer material disintegration by rubbing, when cool, due to the porous structure which exists not only in the core but to a,

lesser degree on the exterior portion.

In order that the process may be more readily understood, the details of the process have'been described as applying to one particular class of coal. I do not limit myself, however, to this particular class of coal as a basis for carrying out the process. Other coals, both higher and lower in volatile matters,.can be handled successfully in substantially the same manner with only a change in quantity of volatile matter or by-products to be cared for and an altered distillation period. It will naturally appear, however, that the more volatile coals offer the greatest field in the matter of resultant by-products.

High pressures are only necessary Where commercial shipment and the handling of I the briquets is desired. Light pressures giving weaker and'less dense fuel can be used satisfactorily where the fuel is to be consumed at its point of manufacture and where deterioration is not a factor.

According to the precess previously described no binder is necessarily employed for the manufacture of a modified coal briquet. I desire it to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the manufacture of modified coal bri nets without a binder as in some cases or special purposes it may be advisable at the time of ultimate compression to add a verysmall percentage of pitch, asphalt, sulfite liquor or similar agglutinant to improve the outside appearance, but in any event the quantity required will be comparatively small.

It may also be found that the same distillation may be accomplished with less. heat process requires more delicateattention with more chances of air leaks into the retort, but in any event the material must be removed from .the heat zone before the entrained gases can be satisfactorily removed.

It will also be noted that the pulverized coal may be composed of a mixture of twoor more coals and that the per cent. of moisture in the coal as charged does not affect the process, except to the extent of requiring additional heat to accomplish the necessary distillation.

This modified coal may be considered as a denatured fuel approximating in heat units a natural coal having substantially equal ash and equal volatile contents, but

with superior burning qualities, and the Such a defective briquet will resultant product is really a modified coal briquet obtained through partial distilla tion.

veyer as through the gate or valve 85. The

press 27 is connected to the conveyer construction in such a manner that the material can be delivered from the conveyer to the press lVithOllt exposure to the air.

From an inspection of Fig. 3 it Will be In the preferred form of apparatus the readily seen that the material passing from the delivery end of the retort past the gate 35 is thoroughly broken. up by themixer 24 prior to bein delivered on the conveyer, thus rendering film which facilitates the gases passing therefrom while it is being propelled along the floor 25 of the conveyer by the flights26 thereof. This inclosed feature of construction facilitates the employment of an exhausting means for Withdrawing gases from within the conveyer casing, thus assisting in the withdrawal of gases entrained in the mass. This exhausting can be effected as by attaching a suitable exhauster to the pipe 41 that leads to the interior of the conveyer.

Where it is desirable to apply a binder, as pitch, to the exterior of a briquet during its period of formation this binder can be supplied as through thepipe 42 leading to the interior of the die portion 27 of the press.

e material in a condition It will be manifest that formsof retorts other than those illustrated as, for example, a retort which is oval in section may be employed with thelong diameter of the oval extending vertically. Such a retort is illus- 'trated in cross-section in Fig. 8. The shell of this retort is designated by reference character 7'. In my retort an advantageous feature ofconstruction involves the placing of the mixer or agitating element 14 so that the material in the lower portion of the retort-that is the portion of the retort which is adjacent to the hottest zones .of the furnace-will be mixed or agitated so that the gases will be permitted to escape as they are given off due to the heating of any particular portion of the coal and also so that the somewhat cooler portions of the coal will come in the hottest zone in the retort, thus effecting the uniform ,heating of all portions of coal in the particular part of the mass. e The improvements herein set forth are not limited to the precise manner, series -of steps, construction and arrangement described and illustrated and the inventionmay be realized in various ways and forms and may be performed or embodied in various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. The method method. comprises ofi a substantial tar vapors, fusing the particles into a coherent mass, maintaining the mass in said fused condition while gases and volatile vapors are passing therefrom, withdrawing said gases and volatile vapors, subsequently removing gases which are'entrained with the coal while still in plastic condition, and finally compressing of treating coal which heating the coal to drive into a briquet the coal from which a substantial portion of the gases has been removed.

2. .In the treating of coal the method which comprises heating the coal to drive off a substantial portion of the gases and vapors, to fuse the coal into a plastic mass and to maintain the coal in said. fused conditionwhile the gases and volatile vapors are passing therefrom, agitating or mixing the coal while it is being heated, treating a portion of the mass after it has left the heat; ing zone so that at least some of the gases entrained in the coal in said segregated mass will be liberated or eliminated therefrom and finally coal from which some entrained been substantially eliminated.

3. In the treating of coal the method which comprises heating the coal to drive off a substantial portion of the ases and vapors, to convert the coal into a used condition and to maintain the coaliin said fused condition while the gases are passing therefrom, the heat being continued or maintained until substantially all of the tar vapors within said coal have been eliminated except that portion necessary to keep the mass fused or plastic prior to compression and subsequently bind the pressed material, then treating a segregated portion of the mass while still in a fused or plastic condition and after it has left the heating zone to liberate or eliminate some of the ases entrained in said segregated mass and nally compressing into a-briquet or briquets. 1

4. The method of treating finely divided or pulverized coal which method comprises heating the coal to drive ofi a substantial portion of the gases and vapors and maintaining the goal in a fused condition while the gases and vapors are passing from the coal, then removing from the fused or plastic material gases which are entrained therein and finally compressing said material into a briquet.

5. The method of treating coal which congases have portion of the gases. and.

compressing into a briquet thethe heating zone and while it still remains in said fused condition, treating the mass so as to free it of gases mixed therewith and finally compressing the treated mass into a briquet.

6. The method of treating coal which consists in heating the coal a suflicient amount to render it plastic and to drive off the moisture and most of the volatile matters containing the tar therein, removing the heated coal from the heating zone, manipulating it while in a plastic condition to 'remove the gases entrained therein and finally compressing the treated mass into a briquet,

7. The method of treating coal which method comprises subjecting the coal to heat while being mixed and agitated so as to drive OK or distil therefrom the moisture and a substantial portion of the gases and vapors which are given off from said coal at a relatively low temperature, heating the coal to a higher temperature while being mixed and agitated and continuing said heating for such period as will cause gases and vapors of other substances which do not volatilize at the lower ,temperature to be driven off, the amount of heat, however, which is applied to the coal being less than the amount required for ultimate destructive distillation but being enough and sufficient in temperature to convert the coal thus treated into a completelyfused plastic condition, conducting away during the heating such gases and vapors as are given off from the coal, treating asegregated portion of the coal when properly heated in a manner to effect removal therefrom of some of the gases or vapors which are entrained therein and subsequently pressing said mass while still in a plastic/condition into a briquet or condensed mass.

8. In the treating of coal the method which comprises heating the coal in a manner to drive ofi from the coal in gaseous and vaporous form such substances as are convertible into gaseous form ata relatively low temperature, carrying the heating further at a higher temperature to drive off from the coal in gaseous or vaporous form substances which are not convertible into gases or fumes at the lower temperature but are convertible into gases or temperature, withdrawing the gases and fumes driven ofi from the coal during said heating, the amount of neat which is applied and the time during which it is applied being less than that required for ultimate destructive distillation of the coal but being suflicient to render the coal thus treated in a fused condition, subsequently taking a segrefumes at the higher 3 gated portion of the mass thus heated, treating sald segregated portion in a manner to remove therefrom some of the gases entrained therein, and forming the segregated portion thereof into a briquet or briquets.

9. In the treating of coal so as to modify its original chemical contents, the method Which comprises feeding coal in a finely divided condition into one end of a retort from which retort gases and vapors given ofi from the coal can be withdrawn, applying heat to the co'ntents of the retort while mixing or agitating said contents until the contents or'coal is completely fused and in a plastic condition, continuing said heating and mixing of the contents or coal which is in said fused condition until there has been removed therefrom sufiicient volatile substance to substantially modify the nature, of

the raw coal and until substances which areconvertible into a vaporous form will be driven oif from the coal in the mass, the heat which is applied to the retort being suflicient in amount to convert and maintain the contents or coal in plastic condition and keep it in said condition until the desired modification is efl'ected, arresting the distillation prior to the complete distillation of the tar vapors, removing from the other end of the retort the contents or coal thus treated while still in a plastic condition and treating the mass thus removed so as to eliminate therefrom a substantial .amount of the gases that would be otherwise entrained therein and while the treated mass in still in a plastic con ition pressing it into briquets or the like.

10. Theprocess of treating coal consisting in first heating the coal to a relatively low temperature, removing the moisture and any gases and vapors given off by said coal during said heating and then carrying the heating to a higher temperature and continuin said heating for such period that the tota amount of heat applied to the coal during the period of appllcation is less than the amount required for ultimate destructive distillation, the coal being agitated or mixed during the heating operation.

11. The process of treating coal'consisting in first progressively heating the coal to a relatively low temperature so as to remove. moisture and any gases and vapors given off ner as will squeeze out such gases as may remain Within said plastic mass.

12. The process of treating coal consisting in progressively heating coal to remove tive distillation, which continued heating is carried on to and at approximately a maxi-.

mum of 800 degrees to 980 degrees F, agitating or mixing the coal while the heating operation is being performed, subsequently treating the heated coal to remove or eliminate a substantial part of the" gases that would otherwise be entrained therein and subsequently pressing the coal into briquets or the like.

13. In the treating of coal the method which comprises uniformly feeding coal to the interior of an air-tight retort, agitating and mixing all of the particles in any particular portionof the mass that is within the retort whereby there will be a uniform heating of all of the particles in said particular portion of the mass, applying heat in a progressive manner to the particular portion of the mass as it passes along the retort while continuing such agitation or mixing of the particles in said portion of the mass and continuing the application of heat ,to said portion of the mass until substantially all the tar substances contained therein and. other gases and vapors are driven therefrom, withdrawing said heated portion of the mass from the retort before it loses its plasticity and finally forming said mass while still in a plastic condition into a briquet or the like.

14:. An apparatus for treating coal which apparatus-comprises in combination a retort, means for feeding coal to the interior of the retort, an inclosed conveyer, means whereby coal which has been treated in the retort can be conducted to said conveyer, and a briquet forming mechanism arranged so as to receive material delivered to it by said conveyer, the retort having therein means for agitating or mixing the charge within the retort, there also-being a furnace for supplying heat for the purpose of heating said retort. q 7

15. An apparatus for treating coal which apparatus comprises in combination a combined furnace and retort, means for feeding coal to the interior of said retort, a briquet forming means and an inclosed means lead ing from the retort to the briquet forming means-whereby coal which is delivered from the retort in lastic condition can be conducted to the riqueting press while still in said condition, there being provided means for removing or eliminating entrained gases from the material after it leaves the heat zone and prior to being formed into briquets in the briqueting press. I

16. An apparatus for treating coal which apparatus comprises in combination a combined'furnace and retort, means for feeding coal to the interior of said retort, a briquet forming means and an inclosed means leading from the retort to the briquet forming means whereby coal which is delivered from the retort or a series of retorts in plastic condition can be conducted to the briqueting press while still in said condition, there being provided means for removing or eliminating entrained gases from the material after it leaves the various heat zones of the retort or retorts and prior to being forme into briquets in the briqueting press, sai means being an agitating or manipulating mechanism which breaks up the heated coal prior to being pressed.

17. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a furnace retort, means for supplying coal to the interior of said retort, an agitating and conveying mechanism within said retort, conveying,

mechanism arranged so as to receive the heated material discharged from the retort, a press or briqueting machine arranged so as to receive material from said conveyer, there being provided an agitating or manipulating mechanism between the retort and the briquet forming portion of the press for agitating or manipulating the material to be pressed whereby a substantial portion of the gases entrained in the material to be pressed will be liberated or removed therefrom.

18. An apparatus ofthe class described comprising in combination a furnace retort, means for supplying coal to the interior of said retort, an agitating and conveying mechanism within said retort, conveying mechanism arranged so as to receive the heated material discharged from the retort, a press or briqueting machine arranged so as to receive material from said conveyer, there being provided an agitating or manipulating mechanism between the retort and the briquet forming portion of the press whereby a substantial portion of the gases entrained in the material to be pressed will be liberated or removed therefrom, the apparatus being constructed so that the material will be contained in an inclosed space from the time it leaves the heating zone of the retort up to the time of the termination of the formation of the briquets.

19. In apparatus for the treating of coal comprising in combination a horizontally extending heated retort, means for feeding coal in finely divided form into the retort at one end thereof, a briquet forming press and an inclosed means through which the heated coal is delivered. from the other end retort to the press, there to force the coal within the retort progressively along the retort as said shaft rotates.

20. An apparatus for treating coal which apparatus comprises in combination a horizontally extending heated retort having therein a member having paddles which rotate about a horizontally extending axis and which paddles are constructed and arranged so as to mix the material in the portion of the mass engaged thereby and so as to move said portion of the mass progressively along the retort, inclosed means connected with the other end of the retort and also connected to a briqueting press through which means the material is conducted from the being provided between the press and the retort or retorts means for removing from the coal to be pressed a substantial portion of the gases entrained therewith.

21. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a furnace retort, means for supplying coal to the interior of the retort thereof, an agitating and conveying mechanism within said retort, and means for conducting heated material dis charged from the retort to a press or briqueting machine, the apparatus being provided with an agitating or manipulating mechanism between the retort and the forming portion of the press so as to knead or break up the material prior to its being pressed.

22. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a plurality of furnace retorts, means for supplying-coal to the interior of each f the retorts thereof, an agitating and conveying mechanism within each of said retorts, means arranged to receive the heated material discharged from the retorts and constructed so as to conduct said material to a press or briqueting machine, there being provided a gate for each retort whereby any one or more of the retorts can be cut off from communication with the rest of the means leading from the retorts to the briqueting press.

23. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a plurality of furnace retorts, means for supplying coal to the interior of each of the retorts thereof, an agitating and conveying mechanism within each of said retorts, a press or briqueting machine, and means arranged so as to receive heated material discharged from the retorts and conduct the same to said press or briqueting machine, there being provided an agitating or manipulating mechanism between the retorts and the briquet forming portion of said press, there also being provided a gate for each retort whereout 01f or sealed as desired.

ing material discharged from said retorts to said conveying mechanism or trunk line and a gate for each of said retorts to cut olf sald retorts from the trunk line.

25. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination one or more retorts, means for supplying coal to the interior of each retort, means for conveying the charged material within the retort through the retort and for mixing the material While being conveyed, means for sealing the retort against the entrance of air, means whereby material is discharged from the retort, a press and means for conveying the material from one or more retorts to said press, said apparatus also having an agitating element between each retort and said press, which agitating element is constructed so as to break upthe material in the mass passing from each retort to the press where.- by the cellular structure of the material will be ruptured, the press being constructed so as to progressively densify the material in said mass and so as to squeeze out gases in said material prior to final compression.

26. In the treating of coal so as to form a modified coal product or briquet the method which comprises progressively heating the coal so as to effect a distillation of certain products, mixing and agitating the coal during the distillation operation so that the heat will be uniformly applied and the distillation will uniformly progress, removing from the heat zone the residue or modified coal while in plastic condition, treating the residue to remove or permit the escape of gases entraained therein, and finally pressing the residue while still plastic in such a manner as will allow the escape of entrained gases from the mass being pressed. 27. In the treating of coal so as to obtain a modified partially de-gasified coal and recover by-products, the method which comprises heating the coal ina retort so as to distil off the desired by-products and so as to leave a modified or partial de-gasified coal, and mixing or agitating the charge within the retort in a manner to efl'ect a uniform mixing of all particles of the coal in any portion of the mass whereby there will be a uniform distillation from all particles in said mass.

28. In the treating of coal the method which comprises heating coal in a retort, constantly agitating or mixing the material in the bottom of the charge in a manner to I permit the escape of the vapors driven 01f by the heating and withdrawing from within the retort the vapors resulting from theheating operation.

29. In the treating of coal. the method which comprises heating coal in a retort, constantly agitating or mixing the material in the bottom of the charge in a manner to permit the escape of the vapors driven off by theheating, withdrawing the resulting vapors produced by the heating operation, and finally forming the residue while in a plastic condition into a briquet.

30. In the treating of coal the method which comprises heating coal in a retort, constantly agitating or mixing the coal in the retort in a manner to permit the escape of vapors driven ofi from the coal by the' heating operation, Withdrawing the vapors from within the retort as the heating or distilling operation proceeds, treating the residue or modified coal, while in a heated condition, exterior of the retort so as to remove or permit the escape ofgases entrained in said residue and finally forming into a briquet the residue thus treated while said treated residue remains in a plastic condition.

31. In the distillation of coal the method which comprises heating the green or undistilled coal up to a temperature approximating 450 degrees F., maintaining the coal thus heated at said temperature until the substances which gasify or vaporize at said temperature are converted into gaseous or vaporous form, continuing the heating of the coal up to a tem erature approximating 7 50- degrees F. an maintaining the coal thus heated at said last-mentioned temperature until the substances that gasify or vaporize at said temperature are converted into gaseous or vaporous form, then heating the coal up to a temperature of approximately 825 degrees to 980 degrees F. and maintaining the coal at said temperatures of 825 degrees to 980 degrees F. until a substantial portion of the substances which gasify or vaporize at said temperatures are converted into gaseous or vaporous form, and agitating and mixing the coal during the heating operations above referred to in such a manner that the gases and vapors driven 011' from the coal will be liberated and in such a manner that the coal particles in any particular portion of the mass as it is being treated will be uniformly heated during the various stages of distillation.

32. In the distillation of coal the method which comprises heating thegreen or undistilled coal up to a temperature approximating 450 degrees F., maintaining the coal thus heated at-said temperature until the substances which gasify or vaporize at said temperature are converted into gaseous or vadegrees to 980 degrees gases and. vapors porous form, continuing the heating of the coal .up to a temperature approximating 750 degrees F. and maintaining the coal thus heated at said last-mentioned temperature until the substances that gasify or vaporize at said temperature are converted into gaseous or vaporous form, then heating the coal up to a temperature of approximately 825 F. and maintaining the coal at said temperatures of 825 degrees to 980 degrees F. until a substantial portion of the substances which gasify or vaporize at said temperatures are converted into gaseous or vaporous form, agitating or manipulating the coal during the heating operations above referred to in such a manner that the driven ofi' from the coal will beliberated and in such a manner that the coal particles in any particular portion of the mass as it is being treated will be uniformly heated during the various stages of distillation, finally removing the residue or distilled coal from the heat zone, treat-' .ing

CHARLES HOWARD SMITH.

Signed in the presence of- G. MCGRANN, V

W. C. MAReEsoN;

residue while stillv 

